World Population Day 2023, observed every July 11, is dedicated to shedding light on the ever-growing global population and the challenges it brings to our planet.
It is worth noting that the world's population surpassed a staggering 7.9 billion in 2021.
World Population Day: Here's What You Need to Know
According to the United Nations, the theme for this year's World Population Day is "Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world's infinite possibilities." It is quite a mouthful. But in other words, the UN wants to focus on the wants and needs of girls and women across the globe.
The UN says that nearly half of the global population turns out to be women, or roughly 49.7 percent, to be precise. But despite these striking numbers, they are most often ignored in various demographic discussions, the intergovernmental organization stresses.
The organization seeks to focus on the women population for this year's celebration, urging everyone to push for gender equality.
The UN says that it should help produce a world that is not only more just and resilient but much more sustainable as well. The org further stresses that the ingenuity and sheer power of women could help us fight the pressing issues our home planet is grappling with these days, such as war and climate change.
A crucial aspect of managing population growth is empowering women and ensuring their access to education and reproductive healthcare. And by empowering women, it enables them to make informed decisions about family planning, which directly impacts population growth.
As per National Today, the Governing Council of the United States Development Programme (UNDP) established World Population Day more than 30 years ago, or in 1989, to be precise.
Its roots stretch back to 1987, when the entire human population reached a whopping five billion on July 11 that year. And since then, the special day has been celebrated for the next following years.
The special day dives into various population issues the world suffers from, including environmental impact, gender equality, and family planning. It further urges us to strike a balance between population growth and the planet's resource preservation.
World Population Facts
The current 8 billion global population is an increase of 2 billion people from 1999. Notably, the rapid growth of the world's population is putting a strain on resources such as food, water, and energy. Not to mention it is contributing to climate change.
UN data estimates that the population on Earth is about to shoot up to a staggering 8.5 billion in the next decade or 2030. In 2050, the figures will keep rising to a whopping 9.7 billion. Fast forward to 2100, it could go as high as 10.9 billion.
Last April, Al Jazeera reported that a UNFPA study predicted that India's population could likely balloon to a whopping 1.42 billion, parallel to China's number by the middle of 2023.
